Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1887-03-12

the toothsome chicken would be left to
comfort the itinerant clergy and the rest
Of mankind. But here comes scientific
light of the San Francisco Microscopical
Society. and sin learned essay, fortified
by microscopes and prepared slides
and analytical expositions, declares the
domestic fowl to be, in very many cases,
the enemy of mankind DR.. Stallard,
armed with microscopic plates containing
cross sections of the lungs spleen
and mesenteric glands of the chick
en-. declares that this inofensive member
of the animal kingdom is the means of
transmitting to man the germs of the
dread disease consumption. The fact that
COWS can communicate scarlet fever to hui
man beings, the dog transmit to them
blood poisoning and eruptive Affections,
and horses convey glandplar and mem
braneous disease, was well known. But
who ever entertained any suspicion of the
barn-yard fowl? DR.. Stallard proved, at
least to his own satisfaction, that in the
flesh of chickens may be frequently found
the germs that will innoculate us with
consumption. The report of the meeting
shows that
He was led to a consideration of this subject
recently by bit of personal experience. He
had been i'll, and while approaching recovery,
cod n
err aud took it home for preparing a meal
The doctor did not give the reasons which led
him to examine the fowl before cooking but
said that he did examine it and was surprised
to find il loaded with consumption in every
part He was led to examine other fowls that
were offered for sale and to make special study
for evidences of bracilh In the standard books
he read that in France fowls fed upon the spu-
tum of consumptiye people became inoeculated
with consumption. This fact was first an
nounced by Och, and his name was given to the
baeilli He proved that the baeilH gained ac-
cess to the system Of the fowls through the low
er part of the esophaglls, the next part attacked
was the alimentary canal, ana lastly the liver,
spleen and skin. Dr.. Stallard said he did not
wish to cause unnecessary alarm to the COM
munity by the above presentation of facts, but
he thought the Society and the medical profess
sion might investigate the subject with adyan-
tage. No better proof OF the injurious effect OF
these bncilli could be afforded than when he
offered his dog portion of the first "broller
examined The sagaeious beast turned up ms
nose at the bonnie bouche and refused TO be IN
occulated. Some one asked the doctor II MS
dog had been shown the specimens through his
microscope The doctor said no, but his dog s
scent was probably better that his eyesight
The doctor should have added to the
gratitude humanity owes him, by giving
the breed of his dog, since it may now be
deemed essential for hotel-keepers, res
tauranteurs and housewives to keep saga
cious brutes with cultured sense OF SMELL
ing, in order to test the roasts, fricassees
and pot-pies of Sunday dinners. But that
the doctor was in dead earnest is estab-
lished further on in the report for he ex-
pressed himself as satisfied that five or six
per cent. of the fowls offered for sale in
the city of San Francisco were afflicted
with consumption; that bacillus was de-
stroyed by any heat greater than 100 de-
gress Fahrenheit, consequently if all fowls
were thoroughly broiled or boiled, all dis
ease germs would be destroyed; still he
did not relish the idea of tempting his sys-
tenn with such luxuries. We have not inn
plicit faith in DR.. stallard's assertion his
sincerity edonot doubt butone-twentieth
the entire product of great food industry
should not rest under such grave condem-
nation without stronger support than the
investigation prosecuted by single enthu-
siastic microscopic. The Microscopical
Society having permitted DR.. Stallard's
statements to go the public, it is bound in
good conscience to now thoroughly inves-
tigate ON its.o own account.